With the central aim of addressing the handling of the BMW M5 and M6, today marks the release of an all new competition package for the entire M5 and M6 lineup.

Now before you say anything, this is not merely a cosmetics package, but a package which seems to really tweak the car from top to bottom with a nod to the driving enthusiast in all of us. Being that most of the complaints directed at the M5 and M6 so far have been directed at its handling and steering feel, BMW has directed most of the upgrades to these departments. There is of course a small requisite power bump which shaves an additional 0.1s off the 0-60mph time, but the upgrades to the suspension and steering seem to be quite a bit more significant.

The new package will be offered across the entire M5 and M6 lineup (which includes the coupe, convertible and gran coupe) starting in July.
US Pricing will be announced closer to the August on-sale date.

BMW M ceramic brakes still remain a separate option, unrelated to this package.

BMW M5 Competition Package

BMW M6 Competition Package

PRESS RELEASE
+ Expand

Munich. They are high-performance sports cars, each with an individual character and all sharing the claim of turning superior performance attributes into an incomparable driving experience. In the BMW M5 and in the BMW M6 Coupe, BMW M6 Convertible and BMW M6 Gran Coupe models, race track technology is brought to the road. The ensuing hallmark M driving characteristics now present themselves in an even more intense, concentrated and impressive guise. From July, BMW M GmbH will be offering the Competition Package as an option for the four most powerful automobiles in the model portfolio. Its features open up a new dimension of dynamics in customary BMW M style.
The Competition Package was specifically conceived to enhance handling properties, in adherence to the principle applied to the development of all BMW M automobiles: fine-tuning the suspension technology to the performance curve of the engine to bring maximum performance in line with consistently superlative responses that are precision-controllable even in highly dynamic driving situations.

The Competition Package boosts output by 11 kW to 423 kW/575 hp in the high-revving V8 engine with M TwinPower turbo technology that powers the BMW M5, BMW M6 Coupe, BMW M6 Convertible and BMW M6 Gran Coupe models. At the same time, the developers at BMW M GmbH have applied extensive modifications to the chassis set-up. Along with the suspension and damping systems, the stabiliser bars have also been more tautly tuned. In the BMW M5 this adjustment has resulted in a lowering of the car by around 10 millimetres. The potential inherent in the rear axle design – based on the race-derived principle of the rear axle subframe being bolted to the body – and the even more precisely calculated elastokinematics for the front axle are exploited to the full in the models featuring the Competition Package, with the aim of enhancing driving precision.

The Active M Differential on the final drive – standard on all models – is also issued with its own control unit in conjunction with the Competition Package. In combination with the modified set-up for the suspension, damping and stabiliser bars, this results in further improved traction. The new hydraulic rack-and-pinion steering with the M-specific Servotronic function, moreover, has more direct mapping to enable firm and secure contact with the road while further increasing the agility of the vehicle during cornering.

Beyond this, the configuration of the chassis control systems has been adapted to the specific suspension profile. With the Competition Package, the M Dynamic mode of the DSC (Dynamic Stability Control) system is even more acutely geared to sporty handling characteristics. The package additionally includes exclusively designed 20-inch M light-alloy wheels along with a sport exhaust system featuring customary M twin tailpipes in black chrome that lend an unmistakable sporty note to both the look and the sound of the car.

The further enhanced high-performance profile of the engine, chassis and sound experience courtesy of the Competition Package also has a positive impact on the vehicle set-up, which can be configured at the press of a button by selecting the Comfort, Sport or Sport+ modes. This makes for an even greater range between a supremely relaxed driving style and emotion-laden sportiness in the overall set-up of the relevant model. This more pronounced differentiation is most noticeable when spontaneously switching the set-up with the help of the M Drive buttons on the steering wheel.
The contents of the Competition Package make for optimised performance characteristics in all models, as demonstrated for example by 0.1 seconds being shaved off the standstill to 100 km/h (62 mph) sprint time and 0.2 seconds when accelerating from zero to 200 km/h (124 mph). Cornering dynamics and elasticity are also enhanced – something that is noticeable in everyday driving but most powerfully experienced on the race track. In particular in conjunction with the optional M carbon ceramic brakes, all the driving dynamics attributes associated with BMW M automobiles are experienced at the highest level.

I am probably in the minority here, but for the approx. additional $15,000 cost for this package I have to question is it really worth it....?

Maybe I am missing something here, but I wonder how many potential M6 owners would really spend that additional money for what this package includes...???

For and extra 15-20 bhp? In the US, who really cares about top speed.... it is the acceleration ability of these vehicles that really counts and one can use and appreciate.

Over half of the people who purchase M6's do not get the approx. $9,000+ ceramic brakes option at that silly expensive additional cost. I appreciate the benefits of ceramic brakes, especially the reduced brake dust coating the wheels, but they do squeak when cold. I do not plan to track my M6 so these brakes are an expense that I cannot really justify.

I happen to like the current optional 20" wheels on the M6 and am not a fan of black colored wheels, (just my personal preference). The new style is nice but not preferable to my taste compared to the current optional 20"s.

The photo of the M6 at the beginning of this post appears to have the car lowered by at least 1 1/2 inches. It sort of looks overweight to me and not very attractive. I guess since my M6 will be a daily driver on some roads that are less than ideal, I do not want to sacrifice any suspension play or have to have a stiffer suspension to absorb ruts and pot holes that could damage the tires, wheels or worse. (Yeah, I know I sound like an older East Coast driver, but that is what I am.....)

I am in the camp that believes that BMW should just include most of these upgrades as standard equipment on the 2014 model, except for the ceramic brakes, due to their cost.
It just starts to get silly when these so-called performance packages become options. I think it is much better to keep is simple.

I'm not sure that we know how much it costs yet but I don't think it will be $15k. It's unclear to me whether this exhaust is the same as the upcoming MPE, which will be Akrapovic. If so, that's your 15hp right there. The active M Differential sounds interesting, anything that improves traction is OK by me. Overall I'm curious, but it's certainly nothing that is making me itch to trade in. I'll think about it again in a few years when that time comes. The M6 is just such an amazing car as it is, I feel lucky to have it in the garage at all.

As for your comment about the brakes, I don't know, at this point I would almost be willing to spend $9k and survive a little cold weather break squeal to get rid of all the brake dust.

I just finished reviewing the latest revision of the Retail Pricing Guide (effective July 1, 2013), which Jason just posted in the Sticky thread.

If I'm reading it all correctly, it seems that the standard-issue 433M (code 2PS) wheels are the default wheels for the M6 GC, even in the case of when ordering the ZCP Competition Package.

Furthermore, it seems that because the GC comes standard with 20" wheels (i.e. unlike the M6 Coupe and Convertible which are fitted standard with 19" wheels), the 343M (code 2NZ) wheels are a NC option on the GC irrespective of whether or not combined with ZCP (i.e. unlike the case of the M6 Coupe/Convertible where it costs $1,300 to opt for the 343M wheels as a standalone option when one DOES NOT order ZCP).

Again, because the GC comes standard with 20" wheels, it seems that a GC owner can even specify the just-released 601M (code 2TX) wheels as a NC standalone option, whereas the M6 Coupe/Convertible people can opt for 601M wheels ONLY in the case of ALSO ordering ZCP.

In fact, it seems that ZCP only costs $6,000 for the GC (i.e. vs $7,300 for the Coupe/Convertible) BECAUSE the GC is the only one of the three M6 iterations to come standard with the 20" wheels.